GABORONE, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has approved an emergency response fund of 97 million pula (about 7 million U.S. dollars) to prevent a potential outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) following official notifications from neighboring countries, Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere said on Tuesday.
In a live national address on Botswana Television in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, Tshere said that formal alerts from the governments of South Africa and Zimbabwe, where active FMD outbreaks are ongoing, prompted the urgent response.
"The disease has been detected about 10 km from our borders with both South Africa and Zimbabwe," he said. "This proximity poses a severe and imminent threat to our national herd and agricultural economy."
Tshere said authorities have already culled and burned about 48 cattle that crossed into infected countries since January.
Botswana shares extensive borders with both South Africa and Zimbabwe, which heightens the risk of cross-border transmission.
The approved funds will support an immediate and comprehensive response, including the establishment of an operational emergency command center. Key actions under the plan include reinforcing border surveillance, deploying rapid-response veterinary teams, and launching farmer awareness campaigns in high-risk zones. The overall goal is to build a strong defensive barrier and keep the virus out of the country.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. An outbreak would have devastating consequences for Botswana's livestock sector, a critical pillar of the national economy and a key source of livelihood for rural communities. ■